Soil Science Commons^™

Smart Growth And Land Acquisition Priorities, New England Environmental Finance Center

Land Conservation

It is well-known and generally accepted that all undeveloped land in New England cannot forever be protected from development; nor would this be a desirable goal, as continued economic development and population growth are near certainties. For these and other reasons, private land trusts and government agencies generally use explicit criteria to prioritize their land acquisition activities and prospects.

Much land protection in New England and elsewhere, however, has occurred without substantial attention to such land use needs as fostering the best locations for where people will live, businesses will locate, and infrastructure will be built to avoid degrading resources. …

Environmental Impacts And Production Effects Of Subsurface Drainage At An Intensive Apple Orchard Near Donnybrook, Wa, D L. Bennett, Richard J. George Dr

Resource management technical reports

This report documents results of research carried out within the Donnybrook area, Western Australia, to determine appropriate management for shallow groundwater system responsible for waterlogging of horticultural crops. On one irrigated and previously waterlogged orchard block an assessment is made of the role that subsurface water control had on fruit production and soil water conditions. The report focuses on environmental aspects.

Vegetation Health Analysis (Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment) : An Impact Study On The Use Of Alkaloam (Bauxite Residue) As A Soil Amendment On Agricultural Land, Garry Heady, Chris Ferreira

All other publications

In 1997, a program was established to monitor the long term, (a minimum of 10 years), impacts on remnant native vegetation, of Alkaloam bauxite residue used as a soil amendment on adjacent agricultural land Data collection is to be repeated on an annual basis for the duration of the program. This report presents pre-treatment site and vegetation data for 2001, the fourth year of sampling in the program. Overall results are compared with those from 1997, 1998 and 2000. Descriptions of monitoring sites and an outline of project design and methodology are provided so the report can be read independently …

Groundwater Study Of The Kellerberrin Townsite, T Cattlin

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study of the townsite of Kellerberrin. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of drilling investation and installation of a piezometer network, a pumping test, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Groundwater Study Of The Pingelly Townsite, Edward K. Crossley

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Pingelly, Western Australia. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of a drilling investigation, expansion of a piezometer network, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Groundwater Study Of The Piawaning Townsite, Russell John Speed, Ali S. Mahtab

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in and around the townsite of Piawaning. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of a drilling investigation, expansion of a piezometer network, a pumping test and a flood risk analysis.

Groundwater Study Of The Bencubbin Townsite, Cahit Yesertener, P Lacey, Shawan Dogramaci, F Lewis, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia. Rural Towns Program, Ali S. Mahtab, S Sharafi

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study of the townsite of Bencubbin. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity management options. The study consisted of drilling investation and installation of a piezometer network, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Groundwater Study Of The Pingrup Townsite, D Pollock, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Louise Hopgood, F Lewis, Ali S. Mahtab, Anthony D. Barr, Muhammad J. Siddiqi, Ron Colman

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Pingrup. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of effective salinity risk management. The study consisted of a drilling investigation and expansion of a piezometer network, a pumping test, groundwater flow modelling and a flood risk analysis.

Hydrogeological Study Of The Dongolocking Reserves, Dumbleyung, Western Australia, Ben Whitfield

Resource management technical reports

The aims of the hydrogeological study were to assess the characteristics of aquifers within the weathered zone, throughout the Dongolocking Reserves and in the surrounding farmland; provide baseline data on root zone salt store (EM38) and vertical distribution of stored salts (EM38) through the use of ground-based geophysical techniques; identify remnant bush at risk of salinisation; suggest management options to address any observed salinity problems; provide a groundwater monitoring network.

Burakin Focus Catchment Report, Mike Clarke

Natural resources published reports

The Burakin Focus Catchment Project was developed between farmers and Agriculture _ Western Australia. The project was designed to give farmers an understanding of the salinity processes occurring within the Catchment and suggestions on appropriate management.

Work began in the Catchment early in 1999 and was complete at the end of 2000. Intensive hydrological investigations formed the basis of the study, which was complemented by surface water control and revegetation strategies. Agronomic issues associated with sandplain soils were raised by the farmers at the initial meeting and this led to a soil survey to determine the pH status of the …

Farming Systems To Manage Salinity. Farmer Directed Research, Development And Extension. Research Results 2001, Richard Olive

Natural resources published reports

More and more of Western Australia's agnicultural lands are becoming saline. Currently it is estimated that about 18 milliion ha of land are affected to a greater or lesser degree by salinity causing production losses estimated at about $70 million a year.

Unless ways are found to halt and reverse the salinisation of land it is estimated that another 4.4 million ha could become saline over the next 50 years.

Grain growers and the Federal Government, through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). are investing $12 4 million in R&D across Australia to develop productive solutions to the salinity …

Profiting From Adversity - Meeting The Challenge Of Salinity Through New Industry Development, Andrew Quinn, Tamara Law, Peter Rowe

Natural resources published reports

Salinity in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia is one of the most significant challenges facing the State's agricultural sector.

Efforts to manage the increasing effect of salt influenced and threatened farming land requires not only the implementation of new farming systems, but a new way of thinking and attitude to production more in tune with environmental and technological limitations.

While past environment lobby pressures have significantly focused on other production activities such as mining and forestry, the future is likely to see increased community interest in agricultural production systems.

Consumers World wide are becoming more environmentally sensitive, with global media …

Low Recharge Farming Systems. Case Studies On The South Coast, Arjen Ryder, Jamie Bowyer, Gerry Skinner, Clare Mccarron

Natural resources published reports

This booklet is intended as a guide to assist land managers to design or select low recharge farming systems. Options that increase water use are described with benefits and issues for each option.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have had a go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only a guide.

Case studies describe the experiences of landholders who have hada go at establishing and managing such systems. Examples are included from different rainfall zones. The systems mentioned in this manual are only …

Degradation In The Brockman River And Ellen Brook Catchments, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

An eight day survey of degradation in the Ellen Brook and Brockman River catchments revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

Erosion and sedimentation

Various forms of erosion were observed during the survey that would cumulatively have an effect on the quality of both the Ellen Brook and the Brockman Rivers, and ultimately the Swan River. Erosion resulted from many situations including landholder management, subdivision design and infrastructure maintenance. Raising awareness as to consequences of erosion and sedimentation, along with remedial techniques and best management practices is recommended for the various levels of stakeholders.

Eutrophication

Eutrophication has been established …

Bulletin 4418 - Nebru Focus Catchment Report, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Nehru Focus Catchment is located in the upper reaches of the Arrowsmith Catchment. It is roughly bounded by Sunset Road in the north, the north-south Kadathinni Hills to the east, the Three Springs - Eneabba Road to the south and Reed Road in the west. It changes in elevation from 372 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) at roughly the intersection of Nehru Rd the Kadathinni Hills to the east and 220 metres AHD near the outlet of the catchment into the Arrowsmith River.

The total area of the catchment is just over 7,400 hectares.

One of the prime areas of …

A Conceptual Hydrogeological Model For The Lake Warden Recovery Catchments Esperance, Western Australia, R Short

Resource management technical reports

The National Land and Water Resource Audit (NLWRA), has identified Dryland Salinity as one of seven major themes for an audit of the nation’s land, water, vegetation and natural resource management. Within this theme, Project 3 has been developed to investigate a key catchment type and how management scenarios will impact on dryland salinity processes. The Lake Warden catchments have been chosen as one of four catchment water balance studies to be undertaken nationally. The catchment water balance analysis will be undertaken using numerical modelling by the CSIRO, Division of Land and Water.

The Rural Towns Program : Groundwater Modelling : The Merredin Catchment, J Matta

Resource management technical reports

Agriculture Western Australia (Agwest), as part of the Rural Towns Program, was engaged to test the application of a groundwater model for potential future management options against salinity for the Merredin townsite. This report illustrates some of the options that could be implemented to achieve the objective of salinity management.

Dalyup Catchment 2000, Esperance Catchment Support Team

Natural resources published reports

This 'State of the Dalyup Catchment' document is a snapshot of the condition of the Catchment in the year 2000. It records the current level of knowledge of the natural resources in the Catchment and discusses some of the management issues and options. This document is a benchmark and through ongoing monitoring, trends in the condition of the Catchment can be identified.

Its primary purpose is as a tool for resource planning such as a surface water management plan, river action plan or revegetation plan. It can also be used in the preparation of funding applications.

Vegetation Trend In The East Kimberley Region : An Analysis Of Ground Monitoring Data From 1991-1998, Noelene Duckett, Paul Novelly, Ian Watson

Research Reports

This document summarises the analyses carried out on the ground monitoring data from the Kimberley region of Western Australia as part of the Natural Heritage Trust project 953024 - ‘'Development of Information Products for Reporting Rangeland Changes.”

Bulletin 4369 - Ord River Irrigation Area - Kununurra Western Australia, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

The Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) in the Kimberley Province of Western Australia is the product of a bold and imaginative plan to develop part of the nation's tropical north for intensive agriculture by harnessing the waters of the Ord River. The principal features of the scheme are:

* A major storage reservoir formed by a dam constructed where the Ord River enters the Carr-Boyd Ranges, 160 kilometres south-east of Wyndham.

* A diversion dam, 50 kilometres further downstream, to raise the river level and divert water to be released from the major storage reservoir onto the irrigable lands.

* …

Bulletin 4357 - Fertilisers For Pastures On Sandy Soils Of The Swan Coastal Plain, K. W. Angell

Bulletins 4000 -

When newly cleared for agriculture, the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain were acutely deficient in phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and the trace elements copper ( Cu) and zinc (Zn) and sometimes molybdenum (Mo). Phosphorus deficiency was overcome by applying single superphosphate. Trace element deficiencies were overcome by adding Cu, Zn and Mo to superphosphate during manufacture, allowing P, Cu, Zn and Mo to be applied to the pasture in the one operation.

It was subsequently found that low sulphur (S) and potassium (K) were limiting production and persistence of subterranean clover-based pastures on the sandy soils of the …

Salinity And Hydrology Of The Fence Road Catchment : A Focus Catchment Of The Blackwood Basin, Ben Whitfield

Resource management technical reports

It is the clearing of native vegetation and replacement with lower water-use annual crops and pastures that is responsible for the developing salinity problem. Traditional farming practices have led to increased recharge to the groundwater systems resulting in increased storage and/or greater areas or rates of discharge. Groundwater monitoring has revealed variable rates of rise throughout the Fence Road catchment, from static to 0.6 metres per year, in a period of average to below average rainfall.

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel -Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Environmental Monitoring Report August 1999, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment is located immediately south of Perth in Western Australia and covers approximately 190,000 ha. It extends from Forrestdale in the north to Harvey in the south, and west from the Darling Scarp to Mandurah on the coast. The boundary of the catchment, as illustrated in Figure 1, represents the area which has been approved by the DEP for the broadscale application of Alkaloam as a soil amendment. (This figure also indicates features and regions of importance in this project).

The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters with most …

Observations On Groundwater Recharge In The Westdale Catchment, M F. Lewis, C E. Mcconnell

Resource management technical reports

A study of the role of groundwater carriers and barriers in controlling salinity was carried out in the Westdale Catchment by Lewis and McConnell (in preparation). Although that study was primarily concerned with groundwater flow and discharge processes, the data collected also provided rudimentary information on the timing of groundwater recharge events and their distribution across the landscape.

Pastoral Resources And Their Management In The Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Australia, A M E Van Vreeswyk, P. T. Godden

Agriculture reports

This report covers about 94,700 square kilometres of rangelands in the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area of Western Australia. The area lies within 27°S and 30°S latitudes, and 115°30'E and 120°E longitudes and includes the towns of Sandstone, Yalgoo and Paynes Find. The northern, southern, and eastern limits of the survey area are largely defined by the boundaries of the 1:250,000 scale series map sheets.The western limit is the boundary between the pastoral and agricultural area.

Managing Granite Outcrops. Revegetation On Farms Information Kit, David Bicknell, Department Of Conservation And Land Management (Calm), The Royal Society Of Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

In Western Australia, granite outcrops rise from the surrounding countryside like an extensive island chain, stretching from the high rainfall south-west to the arid interior. They are extremely rich in biodiversity, which can change dramatically from outcrop to outcrop. They may contain relics of unique plant and animal populations and are very significant for nature conservation.

Granite outcrops can also be a major source of groundwater recharge within catchments, especially where the surrounding fringe and woodland vegetation has been cleared.

What is granite?

*Granite is an igneous rock consisting of large crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica or hornblende.

* …

Report On Degradation In The Southern River / Wungong Catchment. Perth, Western Australia, Brian Lloyd

Natural resources published reports

A five day field survey of degradation in the Southern River/Wungong Catchment revealed several areas of concern. Key concerns are:

- Erosion and Sedimentation

Various forms of water erosion were present that cumulatively, would probably have a significant effect on the water quality of the Canning (and Swan) River. Much of the water erosion results from the installation and maintenance of infrastructure and developments, e.g. roads, subdivisions, stormwater drains etc. Reviewing standard practices, raising of awareness of consequences of erosion and training in urban erosion and sediment control techniques is recommended. Wind erosion is also an issue on the sands …

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Wilson Inlet Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments. with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find Area, Western Australia, A L. Payne, A M E Van Vreeswyk, K A. Leighton, H J. Pringle, P Hennig

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1992 and 1993, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area’s natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about …

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Oyster Harbour Catchment, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.